The thought that I may be alone in my feelings and experiences scares the you-know-what out of me. For this reason, I find reading quotes comforting. Quotes allow me to see that I’m not the only one with these feelings, with these struggles. They provide me a look into the minds and thoughts of others. On top of that, quotes are also a great teaching tool. Not only do they encourage readers to relate to them and their speakers, but they are also thought-provoking and invite readers to reflect on them.

In just four weeks, I will be graduating from college. Since this is a very chaotic and challenging time for me, for all of us in the class of 2016, I thought I’d turn to my good old comfort: quotes. Here are 10 quotes I found that helped soothe me in my times of panic, stress, or sadness --particularly pertaining to graduation -- but these quotes appeal to all and provide us all with some consolation and wisdom.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. When I let go of what I have, I receive what I need” Lao Tzu.

“What if I forgave myself? I thought. What if I forgave myself even though I’d done something I shouldn't have? What if I was a liar and a cheat and there was no excuse for what I’d done other than because it was what I wanted and needed to do? What if I was sorry, but if I could go back in time I wouldn't do anything differently than I had done? What if I’d actually wanted to f**k every one of those men? What if heroin taught me something? What if yes was the right answer instead of no? What if what made me do all those things everyone thought I shouldn't have done was what also had got me here? What if I was never redeemed? What if I already was?” Cheryl Strayed.
“Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and in the end, it’s only with yourself.” Baz Luhrmann.

“From my point of view, which is that of a storyteller, I see your life as something artful, waiting, just waiting and ready for you to make it art.” Toni Morrison.

“Don’t be afraid of fear. Because it sharpens you, it challenges you, it makes you stronger; and when you run away from fear, you also run away from the opportunity to be your best possible self.” Ed Helms.

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.” F. Scott Fitzgerald.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt.

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Napoleon Hill.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, discover.” Mark Twain.

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” Anais Nin.